KR101241306B1 - Window filter sheet and window assembly using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a window filter sheet and a window assembly. According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a window filter sheet includes: first and second substrates facing each other and at least partially transparent; A light conversion layer comprising one or more cavities between the first substrate and the second substrate; A dielectric fluid filled in the cavity; Electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dielectric fluid and displaced to adjust the intensity of transmitted light passing through the first and second substrates in the cavity; And a plurality of control electrodes for driving the electrophoretic particles.

Description

Window filter sheet and window assembly using the same}

The present invention relates to a window filter sheet capable of optical shading by electric driving and a window assembly using the same.

As an example of a window filter used to block external light such as sunlight or to protect privacy and the like, a polymer film in which a dye or a pigment is dispersed is typically used. The polymer membrane has a problem that it is not possible to variably control the light blocking effect after the construction.

Typically, in order to adjust the light shielding effect as necessary, the window filter is coupled to a winding member such as a rotating rod, so that when it is necessary to block external light, it is expanded to cover the window, and again when it is not necessary to block the light. It is common to wind a wound around a winding member and to expose a window. However, the method of using the winding member not only requires a complicated mechanical device for this, but also has a fundamental limitation in that it is not possible to actively control the change in transmittance of light to be blocked.

Accordingly, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a window filter which can adjust the transmittance of light passing through the window by electric driving and is easy to construct.

In addition, another technical problem to be achieved by the present invention relates to a window assembly using a window filter having the aforementioned advantages.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a window filter sheet including: first and second substrates facing each other and at least partially transparent; A light conversion layer comprising one or more cavities between the first substrate and the second substrate; A dielectric fluid filled in the cavity; Electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dielectric fluid and displaced to adjust the intensity of transmitted light passing through the first and second substrates in the cavity; And a plurality of control electrodes for driving the electrophoretic particles.

The cavity may have an array structure including a plurality of cells. In some embodiments, the plurality of cells may include barrier ribs, microcapsules, and microcup structures.

The electrophoretic particles may have at least one of absorbance and reflectivity. The specific gravity of the electrophoretic particles may be equal to the density of the dielectric fluid.

In some embodiments, the control electrodes may include a first control electrode and a second control electrode having different light transmission areas. In addition, the control electrodes may include a first control electrode and a second control electrode disposed side by side in the horizontal direction on one of the first substrate and the second substrate side.

In another embodiment, the control electrodes may include a first control electrode and a second control electrode disposed on the side of the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively. In this case, the first control electrode and the second control electrode may be offset and disposed on different optical paths. In addition, the control electrodes may further include a third control electrode disposed side by side in the horizontal direction on the substrate side of any one of the first control electrode or the second control electrode. The first control electrode and the second control electrode may be disposed to overlap each other, and an area of the first control electrode and an area of the second control electrode may be different from each other.

The window filter sheet may further include a light blocking pattern disposed at the side of the first substrate or the second substrate so as to cover at least one of the control electrodes. The light blocking pattern may be reflective.

The control electrodes may comprise a transparent first control electrode and an opaque second control electrode. The cavity may also include a particle storage region and a photoactive region.

In some embodiments, at least one of the substrates may include any one or a combination of a moisture barrier, an ultraviolet blocking layer, an antistatic layer, an antiglare layer, and a scratch resistant layer. The window filter sheet may further include an adhesive layer disposed on a surface of at least one of the substrates, and a release film disposed on the adhesive layer.

The window filter sheet may further include a control unit including a driving signal generator for applying a driving signal to the control electrodes in the window filter sheet and an operation unit controlling the driving signal generator. The window filter sheet may further include an optical sensor for measuring an intensity of external light and transmitting an electrical signal to the calculator. In the window filter sheet, at least one of the substrates may be a window itself.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a window assembly including a window filter sheet having at least one of the above-described features, and the first and second substrates of the window filter sheet. It may include a window coupled to any one through an adhesive layer. In addition, the window assembly may have a pair glass structure.

The window filter sheet according to embodiments of the present invention may adjust the intensity of transmitted light transmitted to the window by electrophoretic particles driven by the plurality of control electrodes. Accordingly, the intensity of transmitted light can be easily adjusted without the need for bulky and complicated mechanical devices such as a winding member, and the transmittance of light to be blocked in combination with the optical sensor can be actively controlled.

In addition, the window assembly according to the embodiments of the present invention is not only easy to install by the window filter sheet, but also provides a function of blocking external light or selectively transmitting specific light, thereby providing windows and / or exteriors of various buildings. It can be applied to a window of a car, a greenhouse for growing crops, a screen for growing crops, and the like.

1A and 1B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of a window filter sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1C and 1D are patterns of control electrodes according to various embodiments, and FIGS. 1E and FIG. 1f is a plan view schematically showing the wiring layout for driving the control electrodes.
2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of window filter sheets according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of window filter sheets according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention having a plurality of cavities, and FIGS. 3C to 3E are views of patterns of partition walls viewed from an upper substrate side. Plan views.
4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of window filter sheets according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
5A and 5B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of window filter sheets according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view for describing a structure and a driving method of window filter sheets according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
7A and 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of window filter sheets according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
8A and 8B are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating window assemblies including a window filter sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are described in order to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following embodiments may be modified into various other forms, It is not limited to the embodiment. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be more faithful and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, the thickness and size of each layer are exaggerated for convenience and clarity of description, and the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in the drawings. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" may include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, as used herein, "comprise" and / or "comprising" specifies the presence of the mentioned shapes, numbers, steps, actions, members, elements and / or groups of these. It is not intended to exclude the presence or the addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, acts, members, elements and / or groups.

Although the terms first, second, etc. are used herein to describe various members, parts, regions, and / or parts, these members, parts, regions, and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. Is self-explanatory. These terms are only used to distinguish one member, part, region or part from another region or part. Thus, the first member, part, region, or portion, which will be described below, may refer to the second member, component, region, or portion without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, which schematically illustrate ideal embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, for example, the size and shape of the members may be exaggerated for convenience and clarity of description, and in actual implementation, variations of the illustrated shape may be expected. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the specific shapes of the regions shown herein.

window  Structure and drive of filter sheets

1A and 1B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of the window filter sheet 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1C and 1D illustrate control electrodes 33 and 34 according to various embodiments. 1E and 1F are plan views schematically showing the wiring layout for driving the control electrodes 33 and 34.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the window filter sheet 100 includes two or more at least some or all transparent substrates 10 and 20 facing each other. The release film 12 may be provided on the adhesive layer 11 and the adhesive layer 11 on the first substrate 10 (in the figure, the lower substrate) on the surface side of the window W to be constructed among the substrates 10, 20. Can be. In order to install the window filter sheet 100 on the window W, the window filter sheet 100 is attached to the window W by removing the release film 12 and attaching the exposed adhesive layer 11 to the window W. Can be coupled to. The combined structure is as shown in Figure 1b.

The second substrate 20 (in the drawing, the upper substrate) facing the lower substrate 10 is disposed on the external light IL side. In this case, the upper substrate 20 may function as a protective substrate for protecting the window filter sheet 100 from an external environment.

The substrates 10, 20 may be glass substrates, but may be formed of a resin-based material to reduce weight and provide flexibility. The resin material may be, for example, various cellulose resins; Polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN); Polyethylene resins; Polyvinyl chloride resins; Polycarbonate (PC); Polyether sulfones (PES); Polyether ether ketones (PEEK); And sulfonated polyphenylene (PPS) or any combination thereof. These materials are exemplary only, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The light conversion layer 30 including the cavity V may be provided between the substrates 10 and 20. The edge between the substrates 10, 20 is closed by a suitable sealing member (not shown) to form the cavity V. The height of the cavity V may be suitably designed in the range of several micrometers to several mm. The light conversion layer 30 adjusts the transmittance of the external light IL incident to the window filter sheet 100 to adjust the intensity of the transmitted light TL1 and TL2 passing through the window W, which will be described later. It will be clearly understood from the disclosure.

The dielectric fluid 31 is filled in the cavity V. As shown in FIG. The dielectric fluid 31 is a fluid having high resistance and low viscosity. The dielectric fluid 31 may be a single fluid or a mixture of two or more fluids. The dielectric fluid 31 may be a nonaqueous solution or a nonpolar liquid. For example, the dielectric fluid 41 may be a hydrocarbon-containing solution such as decahydronaphthalene (DECALIN), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, fatty acid ester and paraffin oil, toluene, xylene, phenylxylylylethane, dodecylbenzene and alkylnaphtalene Aromatic hydrocarbon-containing solutions such as perfluorodecalin, perfluorotoluene, perfluoroxylene, dichlorobenzotrifluoride, 3,4,5-trichlorobenzotrifluoride, chloropentafluro-benzene, dichlorononane, pentachlorobenzene and tetrachloroethylene. Within the dielectric fluid 31 is a variety of functional additives such as charge-controlling agents, cationic or anionic surfactants, metal soaps, resin materials, metal-based coupling agents and stabilizing agents. Can be. In addition, the dielectric fluid 31 may be colored by transparent or dispersed dyes and / or pigments.

Electrophoretic particles 32 are dispersed in the dielectric fluid 31. The electrophoretic particles 32 have a positive or negative charge and may be composed of pigments, dyed particles, or a composite of at least one of them and a polymer. For example, the composite of the pigment and the polymer may be a pigment coated on the polymer particles or a composition obtained by mixing the pigment and the polymer in an appropriate composition ratio. However, this is illustrative only and the present invention is not limited thereto.

The electrophoretic particles 32 may be reflective to reduce the intensity of the transmitted light TL2 by reflecting the incident light IL. Alternatively, the electrophoretic particles 32 may have absorbance to absorb incident light IL to reduce the intensity of the transmitted light TL2. The aforementioned reflectivity and absorptivity of the electrophoretic particles 32 may be suitably designed to act on at least a portion of the visible light band of the incident light IL and / or light in the ultraviolet region, and the converted light IL, TL1. , TL2) is not limited to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the electrophoretic particles 32 may have both light absorbency and reflectivity to control light transmittance, and the light absorbency and reflectivity may be appropriately designed in consideration of transmittance.

In order to provide electrophoretic particles 32 having the aforementioned reflecting or absorbing properties, the color of the particles 32 is white; black; Other colours, such as red or green; Metallic luster; Translucent; Or combinations thereof. For example, in order to provide white particles, electrophoretic particles 32 may comprise titanium oxide, antimony trioxide, zinc sulfide, zinc oxide, barium sulfide. pigment particles such as barium sulfate, barium titania, kaolin, kaolin, silicon oxide, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, CaCO ₃ , or mixtures thereof. Can be. In order to provide the black particles, the electrophoretic particles 32 may include particles such as aniline black, carbon black, and titanium black. Also, in order to provide chromatic particles, the electrophoretic particles 32 may be formed of a composite of a dye and a pigment and a binder resin having a predetermined color. Also, in order to provide a grain with metallic luster, the electrophoretic particles 32 may include metal particles such as silver nanoparticles, platinum nanoparticles, and aluminum nanoparticles. In addition, to provide translucent particles, electrophoretic particles 32 may comprise resin particles comprising a suitable compound for reducing light transmittance.

Properties such as the material and color of the aforementioned particles are exemplary and the invention is not limited thereby. In addition, the features of these particles may be used alone or in combination. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that black and white particles may be mixed with a suitable binder resin to provide gray particles. In addition, two kinds of particles having different electrophoretic mobility and light shielding properties may be dispersed in the same cavity V. FIG.

The charge of the electrophoretic particles 32 can be achieved by charge control agents and / or triboelectric charges distributed within and / or on the particles, and the amount of charge can be designed to have suitable electrical mobility. Also, preferably, the specific gravity of the electrophoretic particles 32 may be designed to be equal to the density of the surrounding dielectric fluid 31. When the specific gravity of the particles 32 and the density of the dielectric fluid 31 are the same, the particles 32 may be moved or fixed in the dielectric fluid 31 irrespective of gravity. This is because even after removing the voltage applied to the control electrodes 33 and 34 after the particles 32 are moved by an electric field by the control electrodes 33 and 34 to be described later, the distribution state of the particles 32. Means that can be maintained. Accordingly, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a window filter sheet with little or no power consumption for maintaining a predetermined light transmittance while freely adjusting the light transmittance. These advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description.

 In order to drive the electrophoretic particles 31 dispersed in the dielectric fluid 31, the window filter sheet 100 has at least one control electrode 33, 34 capable of applying an electric field in the cavity V. Include. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, four control electrodes 33 and 34 are disclosed in one cavity V, but the number of control electrodes 33 and 34 may be one or more than two.

These control electrodes 33, 34 may have an in-plane structure located on the same plane, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. That is, as shown in FIG. 1A, the control electrodes 33 and 34 may be arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the lower substrate 10. However, this is exemplary and, for example, the upper surface height h1 of the first control electrode 33 may be larger, or the upper surface height h2 of the second control electrode 34 may be larger. The pattern of the control electrodes 33 and 34 may be a pattern spaced apart from each other independently, as shown in FIG. 1C, and as shown in FIG. 1D, the control electrode 34 may have different control electrodes ( 33), for example, it may be a pattern spaced apart to have the same center. In addition, as illustrated, the control electrodes 33 and 34 may be in a square, triangular, or circular pattern. These patterns are shown as continuous, but may have some discontinuous patterns for wiring.

At least one of these control electrodes 33 and 34 may be a transparent electrode. In the illustrated embodiment, the control electrodes 33, 34 may both be transparent electrodes that can provide a light transmissive area for incident light IL. The transparent electrode may include, for example, Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO), Fluorinated Tin Oxide (FTO), Indium Oxide (IO), and Tin Oxide; It may be formed of any one or a combination of a transparent metal oxide such as SnO ₂ ), a transparent conductive resin such as polyacetylene or conductive metal fine particles, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The control electrodes 33, 34, like the liquid crystal display device, allow switching elements TR such as the passive matrix scheme shown in FIG. 1C or the transistor shown in FIG. 1D to apply a suitable electric field in the cavity V. FIG. It may have a pattern suitable for the active matrix method including a. The illustrated wiring patterns have a stripe array structure having a predetermined number of rows m and columns n, but these structures are exemplary and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the control electrodes 33 and 34 may have a pattern suitable for the segmented electrode configuration.

The patterns of the control electrodes 33 and 34 are formed through the photolithography and etching process after forming the above-described conductive material layer on the substrate 10 or by screen printing, drill bits, imprint, soft lithography ( It may be formed by a softlithography, laser drilling process or inkjet printing process, so that a separate patterning process may be omitted. Driving elements such as transistors for driving the control electrodes 33 and 34 may be formed on the lower substrate 10, and known thin film formation such as physical vapor deposition or chemical vapor deposition on the lower substrate 10. The process may be repeated several times. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and preferably, the driving device may be provided separately and modularly regardless of the lower substrate 10. This has the advantage of protecting the drive element from factors that may cause malfunctions, such as ultraviolet rays contained in the external light, and facilitating the coupling with a sensor for measuring the luminous intensity of the incident external light IL.

In one embodiment, the control electrodes 33 and 34 may have different light transmission areas for adjusting the light transmittance. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the control electrodes 33 and 34 are transparent electrodes, and the area of the first control electrode 33 is larger than the area (or larger area) of the second control electrode 34. Can be small.

Hereinafter, the operation of the light conversion layer 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the electrophoretic particles 32 are charged with +, and the electrophoretic particles 32 are black particles having absorbance.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a negative potential (eg, −20 V) is applied to the first control electrodes 33 having a smaller area among the control electrodes, and the second control electrodes 34 having a larger area. When a positive potential (eg, 0 V) is applied, the electrophoretic particles 32 collect on the first control electrodes 33 having a small area. In another aspect, if the control electrodes 33, 34 have a concentric pattern as shown in FIG. 1D, the particles 32 will move to the first control electrode 3 at the edge. As a result, a portion of the light IL incident through the upper substrate 20 is blocked by the electrophoretic particles 32 on the first control electrodes 33 while passing through the light conversion layer 30. However, the incident light IL passing through an area other than the area occupied by the first control electrodes 33, for example, the area occupied by the second second electrodes 34, is left as it is. Will pass through to the window (W).

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 1B, a positive potential (eg, 0 V) is applied to the first control electrodes 33, and a negative potential (relative to the second control electrodes 34 is applied to the first control electrodes 33. For example, when -20 V is applied, the electrophoretic particles 32 leave the first electrodes 33 and move onto the second control electrodes 33, as indicated by the arrow d, so that It is distributed on the two control electrodes 33. As shown in FIG. 1D, if the control electrodes have a concentric pattern, the particles 32 will be distributed from the edge to the center. Accordingly, a part of the light IL incident through the upper substrate 20 is blocked by the electrophoretic particles 32 on the second control electrodes 34, and occupied by the second control electrodes 34. Only incident light IL passing through a region other than the region, for example, the first control electrodes 33, will be transmitted to the window W through the light conversion layer 30 as it is. As such, the electrophoretic particles 32 move in the horizontal direction with respect to the substrate according to the potential applied to the control electrodes 33 and 34 having different light transmission paths, thereby blocking the incident light IL. The transmittance of light passing through the change layer 30 can be adjusted.

1A and 1B, the intensity of the transmitted light TL2 is smaller than that of the transmitted light TL1. When the external light IL is strong, the size of the transmitted light TL2 can be further reduced by distributing the electrophoretic particles 32 on the second control electrodes 34 which provide a larger light transmission area. have.

2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of the window filter sheets 200A and 200B according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, respectively. In these figures, reference may be made to the foregoing disclosure as long as there is no contradiction with respect to constituent members having the same reference numerals as the constituent members shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

In the window filter sheets 200A and 200B, unlike the window filter sheet 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the substrates 10 and 20 may include a plurality of layers 21, 22, and 13. The plurality of layers may include at least one of additional layers such as a moisture barrier layer, an ultraviolet barrier layer, an antistatic layer, an antiglare layer, and a scratch resistant layer. For example, the outermost layers 22 and 13 may be antistatic layers and / or scratch resistant layers, and the intermediate layer 21 may be a moisture barrier layer and / or an ultraviolet blocking layer.

In addition, unlike the window filter sheet 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the window filter sheets 200A and 200B may use the light blocking pattern 40 on one of the substrates 10 and 20. It may further include. For example, in the window filter sheet 200A of FIG. 1A, the light blocking pattern 40 may be disposed on the surface 20s facing the cavity V of the substrate 20. Alternatively, the light blocking pattern 40 may be disposed on the other surface 10s of the substrate 10 (the surface facing the opposite side of the cavity V) as shown in FIG. 2B. In addition, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2B, light blocking patterns 40 and 41 may be provided on the two substrates 10 and 20, respectively. In some embodiments, at least some 41 of the light blocking patterns 40 and 41 may be formed to be embedded in the substrate 20.

The light blocking pattern 40 may be an opaque layer in the wavelength range of any band of the incident light IL or in the visible, ultraviolet and infrared wavelength bands. The light blocking pattern 40 may be, for example, a metal such as chromium having excellent light shielding property used as a black matrix, or polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyimide, epoxy resin, or silicone resin containing dyes and / or pigments. It may be formed of a polymer resin material such as resin, melamine resin, acrylic resin, phenol resin. Preferably, the polymer resin material may be a photosensitive resin composition capable of a photolithography process. These materials for the light blocking pattern 40 are exemplary, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the light blocking pattern 40 may be formed of an insulating inorganic material such as metal oxide and ceramic. In another embodiment, the light blocking pattern 40 may be formed of a reflective material and mounted on the window W, thereby obtaining an additional advantage of improving aesthetics.

The light blocking pattern 40 may permanently block a part of the light IL incident to the light conversion layer 30. The light blocking pattern 40 may be disposed to overlap at least part of any one of the control electrodes 33 and 34. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the light blocking pattern 40 may be aligned to completely cover the first control electrode 33. In this case, unlike the first control electrode (33 of FIG. 1A) of the window filter sheet 100 described above, the first control electrode 33 positioned below the light blocking pattern 40 may be formed of the incident light IL. It does not contribute to the transformation action.

However, the first control electrode 33 defines the particle storage region SA in the cavity V. FIG. In addition, only the second control electrode 34 defines the photoactive region TA that controls the transmittance in the cavity V. FIG. The light blocking pattern 40 defining the particle storage area SA is characterized by electrophoretic particles 40 from harmful rays such as ultraviolet light contained in external light while the electrophoretic particles 40 stay in the particle storage area SA. Protects).

When the particles 32 are stored in the particle storage area SA (that is, when the particles 32 collect on the first electrode 33, some of the incident light IL passes through the light conversion layer 30. It will be delivered to the window W. However, as shown in Fig. 1A, when the second control electrode 34 has a relatively low potential compared to the first control electrode 33, particles having positive charges ( 32 will move from the first control electrode 33 to the adjacent second control electrode 34, as indicated by arrow d, and will be distributed on the second control electrode 34. As a result, the cavity ( Incident light IL introduced into V) is also blocked by electrophoretic particles 32.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the window filter sheet 200B has a configuration in which the window sheet filter 100 shown in FIG. 1A is reversed. In the window filter sheet 100 of FIG. 1A, the adhesive layer 11 and the release film 12 are provided on the side of the substrate 10 corresponding to the lower substrate, but as shown in FIG. 2B, the window filter sheet 100 may be formed. The adhesive layer 11 and the release film 12 may be provided on the substrate 20 side corresponding to the upper substrate. In the window filter sheet 200B of FIG. 2B having the configuration in which the window filter sheet 100 of FIG. 1A is reversed, the substrate 20 corresponding to the upper substrate of FIG. 1A is formed on the surface of the window W by the adhesive layer 11. Attached to the top.

According to the distribution state of the particles 32 shown in FIG. 2B, some of the incident light IL will pass through the second control electrodes 34 to the window W (TL). However, when an electric potential relatively lower than that of the first control electrodes 33 is applied to the second control electrodes 34, the particles 32 are formed by the second control electrode layer (as indicated by the arrow d). 34) and the transmitted light TL will be reduced.

Features disclosed with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B may be implemented in combination with or in place of features of the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B unless inconsistent. For example, it will be appreciated that the window filter sheet 100 and the light blocking pattern 40 and / or one or more additional layers 21 22 and 13 described above with reference to FIG. 1A may be further included.

In addition, with respect to the window filter sheets according to the embodiments of the present invention, although described in terms of blocking incident light IL, those skilled in the art, on the contrary, only the light of a specific wavelength band from the incident light IL selectively It should be understood that the above-described features of the present invention may be described in terms of delivering to W), or in terms of blocking light from exiting the window W to the outside.

Hereinafter, various modified embodiments will be described based on the above-described disclosures. It is to be understood that these modified embodiments may be practiced in combination with or substituted for the above features unless specifically stated to the contrary.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of the window filter sheets 300A and 300B according to another embodiment of the present invention having a plurality of cavities V1 and V2. 3E is a plan view of the pattern of the barrier ribs 50 viewed from the upper substrate 20 side.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the window filter sheets 300A and 300B may include a plurality of cavities V1 and V2 defined by partitions 50 disposed between the substrates 10 and 20. Can be. These cavities V1 and V2 are arranged in a direction horizontal to the substrates 10 and 20. The shapes of the cavities V1 and V2 defined by the partition walls 50 may include a round pattern such as a circular or elliptical pattern when viewed from the upper substrate 20 side; Polygonal patterns such as triangles, squares, pentagrams or hexagons; Or it may have a stripe or meander pattern. 3C-3E illustrate partitions V having a triangular, square and hexagonal pattern, respectively.

The partition walls 50 may be formed of, for example, a polymer material such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyimide, epoxy resin, silicone resin, melamine resin, acrylic resin, phenol resin, or a combination thereof. have. Alternatively, the partitions 30 may be formed of a photosensitive resin material. The partitions 50 may be patterned by photolithography, laser drilling, molding processes, gravure coating, inkjet methods, and the like. These partitions 50 may be formed of a transparent material to increase the transparency of the window filter sheets 300A and 300B. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the partition walls 50 may be formed of an opaque material or have a color. When the partitions 50 are used as an opaque material, a wiring structure and driving elements for addressing the control electrodes 33 and 34 are disposed below the partitions 50 so that these components are caused by external light. It can also prevent their malfunction.

Each of the cavities V1 and V2 may be assigned two control electrodes 33 and 34 as shown in FIG. 3A, and three control electrodes 33a and 33b as shown in FIG. 3B. 34) may be assigned. However, unlike shown, four or more control electrodes may be assigned to these cavities V1, V2. Alternatively, although not shown, at least some of the control electrodes may be common electrodes shared by adjacent cavities V1 and V2.

The control electrodes 33 and 34 may be independently addressed for each of the cavities V1 and V2 to adjust the light transmittance of the light conversion layer 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the electrophoretic particles 32 in the photoactive region TA are maintained at the control electrodes 33 and 34 assigned to the first cavity V1 to maintain a light blocking state. Can be applied, and the electrophoretic particles 32 are distributed in the particle storage area SA to the control electrodes 33 and 34 assigned to the adjacent second cavity V2 to allow incident light. A potential for transmitting part TL of IL may be applied. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B, a potential may be applied so that adjacent cavities V1 and V2 maintain the same light blocking state.

3A and 3B show the light blocking pattern 40 defining the particle storage area SA, this is only illustrative and it will be appreciated that the light blocking pattern 40 may be omitted. In this case, the control electrodes 33, 34; 33a, 33b, 33c may adjust light transmittance by providing light transmitting regions having different sizes, as described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of the window filter sheets 400A and 400B according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B, the window filter sheets 400A, 400B differ in the arrangement of the control electrodes 33, 34; 33a, 33b, 34 from the other embodiments described above. The first control electrode 33 and the second control electrode 34 of the window filter sheet 400A of FIG. 4A are not on any one substrate, but are disposed on different substrates 10 and 20, respectively. . For example, the first control electrode 33 is disposed on the upper substrate 20 side, and the second control electrode 34 is disposed on the lower substrate 10 side. In addition, these control electrodes 33 may be offset on each other and disposed on different optical paths as shown in FIG. 4A. Although not shown, even when control electrodes 33 and 34 are disposed on different substrates, as described with reference to FIGS. 1C and 1D, these control electrodes may be independent or surround each other. It should be understood that it can have.

At least one of the first control electrode 33 and the second control electrode 34 may be a transparent electrode. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the first control electrodes 33 are opaque electrodes, while the second control electrodes 34 may be transparent electrodes. When voltage is applied as shown in these control electrodes 33, 34, the light-shielding electrophoretic particles 33 in the respective cavities V1, V2 are indicated by arrows d. It is tilted relative to 20 and is displaced from the first control electrodes 33 onto the second control electrodes 34. Accordingly, all incident light IL may be blocked. The first control electrodes 33 function as particle collecting electrodes that are opaque to define a particle storage space, and may play the same role without the light blocking patterns 40 described above.

Similarly, in the window filter sheet 400B of FIG. 4B, the first control electrodes 33a and the second control electrodes 34 having an in-plane structure formed on the same substrate, for example, the lower substrate layer 10. In addition, it may further include other third control electrodes 33b formed on another substrate, for example, the upper substrate 20 side. In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the first control electrodes 33a and the second control electrodes 33b may be controlled at the same potential with each other, and at least one of these control electrodes 33a, 33b is made of an opaque material. In this case, the control electrodes 33a and 33b overlap each other to provide a particle storage region. As shown in FIG. 4B, if a corresponding potential is applied to each of the electrodes 33a, 33b; 34, the electrophoretic particles 32 will have a displaced and illustrated distribution, in this case the incident light IL. Silver will be blocked by the particles 32.

5A and 5B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of the window filter sheets 500A and 500B according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the window filter sheets 500A and 500B shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, unlike other embodiments described above, the electrophoretic particles 32 move in a direction perpendicular to the substrates 10 and 20. Then, the light transmittance of the light conversion layer 30 is adjusted accordingly. The partitions 50 defining the cavities V1 and V2 may have a tapered shape in which the width increases from the upper substrate 20 toward the lower substrate 10. Optionally, the partitions 50 may have a tapered shape that decreases in width from the upper substrate 20 toward the lower substrate 10. The partitions 50 may use a transparent resin-based material to provide a light transmission path.

The window filter sheets 500A and 500B may include a first control electrode 33 and a second control electrode 34 disposed to overlap each of the lower substrate 10 and the upper substrate 20. In this case, light transmission areas of the first control electrode 33 and the second control electrode 34 may be different from each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the case where both the first control electrode 33 and the second control electrode 34 are transparent electrodes is illustrated, and the area of the first control electrode 33 is the area of the second control electrode 34. Greater than However, this is exemplary and the first control electrodes 33 may be transparent and the second control electrodes 34 may be opaque. It may also be the reverse.

5A and 5B, the left view shows the electrophoretic particles 32 moving downward in the cavities V1 and V2, and the right view shows the electrophoretic particles 32 when the cavity V1, The up state moved upward in V2) is shown. By way of example, it can be seen that the size of the transmitted light TL1 when the particles 32 are in the down state is larger than the size of the transmitted light TL2 that transmits the partition 50 in the up state.

While in the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 5A and 5B there is a partition 50, it will be appreciated that the partition 50 may be omitted as described above with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. In addition, the patterns of the first control electrode 33 and the second control electrode 34 may be variously modified as described with reference to FIGS. 1C and 1D.

The number of the first control electrode 33 and the second control electrode 34 may be different from each other. For example, the number of first control electrodes 33 in the cavities V1 and V2 may be one, and the number of second control electrodes having a small electrode area may be plural.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5B, some of the control electrodes 33, 34, for example, the first control electrode 33 may be a common electrode. In this case, the first control electrode 33 is kept in a ground state when driven to provide a reference potential, and the second control electrode 33 is addressed to individually drive the particles 32 in each cavity V and V2. You may.

6 is a cross-sectional view for describing a structure and a driving method of the window filter sheets 600 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the window filter sheet 600, the surfaces of the control electrodes 33 and 34 may not be directly exposed in the cavities V1 and V2, but may be covered by the insulating protective layers 61 and 62. . These insulating protective films 61 and 62 may be subjected to an appropriate surface treatment or thickness control on the surface thereof, so that the electrophoretic particles 32 move to any control electrode side, and then be fixed even if the power source is removed. It may help physical or chemical adsorption. For the light transmittance control and the partition wall 50 according to the distribution state of the particles 32 can refer to the above-described disclosure.

7A and 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating a structure and a driving method of the window filter sheets 700A and 700B according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the window filter sheet 700A may include a plurality of cavities V1 and V2 defined by the microcapsule shell 70A between the substrates 10 and 20. The microcapsule shell 70A is, for example, water soluble polymers, water-dispersed polymers, oil soluble polymers, thermosetting resins, thermoplastic resins, and UV- or radiation curable resins. Using materials, chemical processes such as emulsion polymerization, interfacial polymerization, insitu polymerization; Physical processes such as co-extrusion and phase separation; In-liquid curing; And enumerated encapsulation reactions such as simple / complex coacervation. However, the present invention is not limited by these examples. The microcapsule shells 70A may be secured by a suitable binder material 80 between the substrates 10, 20. The capsule shell 70A may be formed of a transparent material to increase the transmittance of the window filter sheet 700A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the capsule shell 70A may have a color.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the window filter sheet 700B may include cavities V1 and V2 defined by the microcup structure 70B between the substrates 10 and 20. The micro cup structure 70B may be provided by forming recess regions in the polymer film to be the cavity V1 and V2 using a pattern forming process such as a photolithography process or an embossing process. The micro cup structure 70B may be formed of a transparent material to increase the transmittance of the window filter sheet 700B. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the micro cup structure 70B may have a color.

By way of example, in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the electrophoretic particles 32 have the distribution shown, since the second control electrode 34 having a large transmissive area is shielded by the particles 32, The light transmittance is reduced. On the contrary, when the particles 32 move toward the first control electrode 33 having a small area, the intensity of the transmitted light TL will increase. Although the control electrodes 33, 34 are both disclosed as being provided on the lower substrate 10 side, as disclosed through other figures, the control electrodes 33, 34 may be formed by the lower substrate 10 and / or the upper substrate ( 20 may be provided in various arrangements as described above.

8A and 8B are schematic cross-sectional views of window assemblies 1000, 2000 that include a window filter sheet 800 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

8A and 8B, the window filter sheet 800 may further include a controller 850 for controlling the window filter sheet 800. The controller 850 may include a driving signal generator 851 for applying a driving signal to the control electrodes in the window filter sheet 800 and an operation unit 852 for controlling the driving signal generator 852. In addition, the control unit 850 may further include an optical sensor 853 for measuring the intensity of the external light to change the electrical signal. By receiving the electrical signal from the optical sensor 853, the operation unit 852 may adjust the driving signal applied to the control electrodes. For example, when the intensity of the external light is large, the optical sensor 853 may detect this, and the operation unit 852 may apply a signal to the control electrodes to reduce the light transmittance of the window filter sheet.

The power supply for supplying power to the controller 850 may use a power source installed in a building, a car, and a greenhouse to be installed. As another embodiment, it may be provided by a solar cell attached to the window W to provide a stand alone system.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the window filter sheet 800 may be attached to one surface of the window W to be deposited by the adhesive layer 11 to provide an integrated window assembly 1000 in which filter functions are combined. . As another example, the window W may be provided as either of the substrates 10 and 20 without the adhesive layer 11 to provide a unitary window assembly. 8B illustrates a window assembly 2000 to which a window filter sheet 800 having a pair glass structure is coupled as another unitary window assembly. In order to provide a pair glass structure, two windows W1 and W2 facing each other may be coupled to both main surfaces of the window filter sheet 800 with the window filter sheet 800 interposed therebetween. However, this is exemplary, and it is as described above that the window to be deposited may be integrated by replacing any one of the substrates 10 and 20 constituting the window filter sheet 800, and such a configuration is also described in the present invention. It will be understood that it is included in the scope.

The window assemblies 1000 and 2000 may be applied to windows and / or exteriors of various buildings, windows of automobiles, greenhouses for growing crops, and screens for growing crops by providing a function of blocking external light or selectively transmitting specific lights to the windows. There will be.

The shape and structure of the cavity disclosed in the above embodiments are exemplary, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by terms such as capsules, micro cups, and cavities in which electrophoretic particles are stored. In addition, it is to be understood that the above-described electrode pattern shapes, arrangements, and partitions may be modified or combined with each other, so long as they do not contradict each other, and all of these modifications belong to the present invention.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and alterations are possible within the scope without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention, which are common in the art. It will be apparent to those who have knowledge.

Claims (25)

A window filter sheet attached to a window to adjust the transmittance of external light passing through the window,
First and second substrates facing each other and having at least one surface attached to the window and at least partially transparent;
A light conversion layer comprising one or more cavities between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A dielectric fluid filled in the cavity;
Electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dielectric fluid;
First and second control electrodes selectively disposed on any one of the first substrate and the second substrate and spaced apart from each other; And
A light blocking pattern disposed on a substrate close to external light of a first substrate and a second substrate so as to cover the first control electrode among the control electrodes,
The second control electrode has a larger area than the first control electrode to provide a larger light transmission area than the first control electrode, wherein the electrophoretic particles are disposed between the first control electrode and the second control electrode. Displaced to adjust the transmittance of the light, wherein the first control electrode defines a particle storage region with the light blocking pattern. The method of claim 1,
And the cavity has an array structure including a plurality of cells. The method of claim 2,
And said plurality of cells comprises a partition wall, a microcapsule, and a microcup structure. The method of claim 1,
And the electrophoretic particles have at least one of absorbance and reflectivity. The method of claim 1,
And a specific gravity of the electrophoretic particles is equal to the density of the dielectric fluid. delete delete A window filter sheet attached to a window to adjust the transmittance of light passing through the window,
First and second substrates facing each other and having at least one surface attached to the window and at least partially transparent;
A light conversion layer including one or more cavities between the first substrate and the second substrate;
A dielectric fluid filled in the cavity;
Electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dielectric fluid and blocking the light; And
First and second control electrodes disposed on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively, spaced apart from each other with the cavity interposed therebetween, and offset on the different optical paths so as not to overlap each other; And
A light blocking pattern disposed on a side of a substrate close to external light of a first substrate and a second substrate so as to cover the first control electrode among the control electrodes,
The second control electrode has a larger area than the first control electrode to provide a larger light transmission area than the first control electrode, wherein the electrophoretic particles are disposed between the first control electrode and the second control electrode. Displaced to adjust the transmittance of the light, wherein the first control electrode defines a particle storage region with the light blocking pattern. delete The method according to claim 1 or 8,
The control electrodes may further include a third control electrode disposed side by side in a horizontal direction on the substrate side of any one of the first control electrode and the second control electrode to provide the particle storage region. Window filter sheet. delete The method according to claim 1 or 8,
And the control electrodes comprise a common electrode shared by adjacent cavities. The method of claim 1,
And the control electrodes have patterns spaced apart from each other independently, or any one control electrode has a pattern spaced apart surrounding the other control electrode. delete The method according to claim 1 or 8,
The light blocking pattern has a window filter sheet, characterized in that the reflective. The method according to claim 1 or 8,
And the first control electrode is opaque and the second control electrode is transparent. delete The method according to claim 1 or 8,
At least one of the substrates, the window filter sheet, characterized in that it comprises any one or a combination of a moisture barrier, UV blocking layer, anti-static layer, anti-glare layer and scratch resistant layer. The method according to claim 1 or 8,
A window filter sheet further comprising an adhesive layer on a surface of at least one of the substrates and a release film disposed on the adhesive layer. The method according to claim 1 or 8,
And a control unit including a driving signal generator for applying a driving signal to the control electrodes in the window filter sheet and an operation unit controlling the driving signal generator. 21. The method of claim 20,
And a light sensor for measuring an intensity of external light and transmitting an electrical signal to the calculator. The method according to claim 1 or 8,
At least one of the substrates is formed integrally with the window. A window filter sheet as claimed in claim 1; And
And a window coupled to one of the first and second substrates of the window filter sheet through an adhesive layer. 24. The method of claim 23,
And said window assembly has a pair of glass structures. 24. The method of claim 23,
The power supply supplied to the window assembly comprises a solar cell.

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